When they enter DSHA each morning, hundreds of young women bring their passions, their backgrounds, and their possibilities into the halls and classrooms. They don’t leave themselves at the door. So why should our teachers?

At DSHA, our top-notch educators are encouraged to bring their expertise  — academic and personal — into the classroom to enrich the lives of their students. Even more inspiring is when this personal touch enables DSHA students to give back to others, across the country and beyond.

Martha Parks, a Spanish instructor in DSHA’s World Languages department, has accompanied Dashers on a summer service trip to her hometown of Quito, Ecuador, for the past eleven years. Eight rising seniors serve at the Working Boys Center (WBC), a Jesuit Catholic Mission (where Parks’ brother worked as she grew up,) and explore the Ecuadorian culture in which their Spanish teacher spent her childhood.

For Parks, having support from DSHA to bring students back to her hometown is very special. “It’s a very fulfilling experience. I know the need is there for the Mission to have volunteers, so we are always asking, ‘How can we help?’” Watching the students thrive in an unfamiliar culture is even more exciting. “They think, ‘Oh my gosh, I can do this! I can understand this!’ I get to see how gratifying it is for them to know they can understand the language they learn in my class.”

The WBC was founded by Father (“Padre”) Halligan, a Jesuit priest, in 1964. Sr. (“Madre”) Miguel, a BVM nun, joined Father Halligan shortly after to further the mission of the WBC, which empowers families to escape poverty forever. A meaningful moment on this year's trip, says Alumnae Director and chaperone Ann Duffy, DSHA ‘10, was hearing the two speak about the early days of the WBC. In the beginning, there was no plan; instead, Padre and Madre worked day-to-day. “They didn’t set out to move mountains,” said Duffy. “This happened by the grace of God and their hard work.”

The trip is called Juntos, the Spanish word for “together,” for good reason. DSHA students grow closer to each other and to the students of the WBC as they develop their Spanish language skills in an immersive experience. Even when words escape them, the Dashers find ways to express themselves. “Hand gestures, body language, facial expressions, and hugs are all powerful tools that do not require any words at all,” says Bonnie Rachael Beres, DSHA ‘19, who traveled with the group to Quito from June 1 to 13, 2018. “Often times, these forms of communication communicate more than words ever could.”

Communication proves not to be too much of a challenge with Parks along, though it isn’t simply Spanish proficiency that sets her apart from the other chaperones at the WBC. What makes her unique? “Cultural notes,” she says, as she recounts stories of asking a passing Quitoan for a ride back to the Mission in his van and encouraging girls to taste a piece of unfamiliar fruit with a flavor reminiscent of marshmallows. “As a chaperone, I am a native. The girls see me trying things, doing things, and my confidence shining through… They are not hesitant. They are not afraid.”   

Though countless groups of volunteers visit the WBC from high schools and colleges nationwide, DSHA’s groups stand apart from the rest. “I have always admired the DSHA girls and their ability to fully immerse themselves in the experience. They come in with such open hearts and minds, free of judgement and ready to learn from our families and from the experience,” says Caitlin McGuire, Community Director at the Center for Working Families. “Contributions with extra heart and thought are what really make the DSHA group so special!”

Parks says this thoughtfulness allows the students to truly connect to the experience and return home with a greater awareness of their blessings, particularly after witnessing firsthand the difficulties faced by many Ecuadorians. “I make the girls take the city bus — so hot, sweaty, and full of people — to these people’s homes,” she says. “We’re not just talking about it, not just seeing it — we experience it. I make them practice what they preach.”